Rotating blister dispenser

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to dispenser packs ( 10 ) and in particular rotating blister dispenser packaging structures. A dispenser pack ( 10 ) includes at least one circular blister pack ( 12 ) including blister cavities ( 14 ), wherein the blister cavities ( 14 ) are arranged along the circumference of the blister pack ( 12 ), and a casing ( 18 ) in the form of a closed box, wherein two of the opposite surfaces (A, B) of the casing ( 18 ) are square and a corner (C) of the casing ( 18 ) is removable for providing an opening ( 20 ) in the casing ( 10 ). The diameter D of the blister pack ( 12 ) is equal to the side lengths L of the two opposite surfaces (A, B) of the casing ( 18 ). The blister pack is rotatably mounted inside the casing ( 18 ) such that the axis of rotation passes through the center of the blister pack ( 12 ). The opening ( 20 ) provides access to at least one of the blister cavities ( 14 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A dispenser pack comprising:
 a casing having square and parallel top and bottom surfaces joined to four rectangular sides, with the rectangular sides perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces; 
 a first blister pack contained within the casing, the first blister pack having a plurality of blister cavities, and side surfaces in sliding contact with substantially each of the four rectangular sides of the casing, allowing the first blister pack to rotate within the casing about a substantially fixed central axis, with no physical axis element at the central axis; 
 the casing having four corners, with each corner formed by a portion of the top and bottom surfaces and by a portion of two of the rectangular sides, with a corner of the casing removable from the casing or pivotally attached to the casing, to provide an opening in the casing. 
 
     
     
       2. The dispenser pack of  claim 1  with the first blister pack comprising a plurality or equally spaced apart arms extending radially outward from a central section, and with one blister cavity on each of the arms. 
     
     
       3. The dispenser pack of  claim 2  with each arm having a curved outer end, and with the curved outer ends of the arms forming the side surfaces in sliding contact with the four rectangular sides. 
     
     
       4. The dispenser pack of  claim 2  further comprising a second blister pack attached to the first blister pack, with each blister cavity on the first blister pack in between adjacent blister cavities on the second blister pack. 
     
     
       5. The dispenser pack according to  claim 4  wherein each second blister cavity along the circumference of the second blister pack is spaced out such that the second blister pack is star-shaped. 
     
     
       6. The dispenser pack according to  claim 4  wherein the first blister pack comprises at least one alignment element for locking spatial positions of the first and second blister packs with respect to each other. 
     
     
       7. The dispenser pack according to  claim 6 , wherein the alignment element comprises one or two alignment pins and a corresponding number of alignment holes. 
     
     
       8. The dispenser pack according to  claim 1  wherein the substantially fixed central axis is perpendicular to the side surfaces of the first blister pack. 
     
     
       9. The dispenser pack according to  claim 1  wherein the opening in the casing provides access to two successive blister cavities individually dispensing in opposite directions. 
     
     
       10. The dispenser pack according to  claim 1  wherein the first blister pack comprises plastic and/or metal. 
     
     
       11. The dispenser pack according to  claim 1  wherein the casing is made from cardboard. 
     
     
       12. The dispenser pack according to  claim 1  further comprising perforations passing around the edges of the opening for allowing simple removal of said corner. 
     
     
       13. The dispenser pack according to  claim 1  wherein the casing comprises at least one view port for inspecting the individual blister cavities. 
     
     
       14. The dispenser pack according to  claim 1  wherein the casing and/or the first blister pack comprises a latch for rotation click-stop. 
     
     
       15. A dispenser pack comprising:
 a casing having square and parallel top and bottom surfaces joined to four rectangular sides, with the rectangular sides perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces; 
 a first blister pack attached to a second blister pack within the casing, each blister pack having a plurality or equally spaced apart arms extending radially outward from a central section, and with a blister cavity on each of the arms, the arms of the first blister pack radially offset from the arms of the second blister pack; 
 each arm having a curved outer end in sliding contact with a central area of each of the four rectangular sides as the blister packs rotate with in the casing, to maintain the blister packs centered on a substantially fixed central axis, with no physical axis element at the central axis. 
 
     
     
       16. The dispenser pack of  claim 15  with the blister cavities on the first blister pack projecting upward from the arms on the first blister pack, and with the blister cavities on the second blister pack projecting downward from the arms on the second blister pack, and with all of the blister cavities equally spaced apart on a common circumference. 
     
     
       17. The dispenser pack according to  claim 15  wherein the first and second blister packs are interlocked with their front-sides facing each other. 
     
     
       18. The dispenser pack according to  claim 17  wherein the first and second blister packs are partly connected by a folding element.